Meeting report for 21st February

If you didn't attend you missed a great meeting. Details are as follows.

Apologies came from Les, who is at present having to look out for Joan who has not been well. Carolyn who is off travelling again, Our treasurer Beryl who has unfortunately sprained her wrist and lastly Caz.

Members present were; Dave, Dick, Ally, Liliane, Sally, Cathy, Sandy, Martin, Ally, Tony and yours truly.We welcomed Lyndsay into the fold, hoping she will be a regular visitor and contributor.

We had just two readings for the evening as it was one of our critique meetings.

Dave was first to read from his novel provisionally entitled Shadow of the Trees. We listened to two chapters, the first being 'Confrontation' which came as mid way through the novel so the characters were fully formed. The novel is woven round the events following a nasty motor accident involving Pauline, one of the main characters, who was in collision with a nefarious character called Noye in his sports car. The accident was entirely his fault and he was convicted and sentenced to a spell in Hollesley Bay Prison from where he escaped.

Another character is Billy, a policeman who gets emotionally entangled with the victim, Pauline and causes a rift between himself and his wife, Judy. The chapter tells of his ferocious argument with Judy as she confronts him about his attachment to Pauline.

The second chapter was 'On the Run' and describes how Noye escapes from the prison and has reached his parents house to gather some clothing and food. He is confronted by his father who tells him what he thinks of his activities. The argument is heard by Noyes mother who enters the kitchen and begins to berate her son. This drives him crazy and he picks up a kitchen knife and stabs his mother, then in a fury stabs his father who is about to attack him.

These were powerful chapters and the meeting offered what Dave considered to be plenty of helpful feedback.

The second reader was Tony. I am rather at a loss to describe the plot of his novel other than to say it borders on being a classic and of a genre that is not at present recognised.

The novel is called Sword of the King and the chapters were from the very beginning and called 'The pebbles of Power'

Tony's novel has cleverly woven together homework from the years gone by until reaching what he finally considers to be a finished novel. He tells us that there is already interest in his production so we wish him well in the venture.

This was an evening enjoyed by all and hopefully of use to Dave and Tony.

The homework subject for next meeting on the 6th March is 'BLANK' chosen by Lyndsay.

Good luck and keep scribbling.

Barry.